Nursing Schools: Getting Started on Your Nursing Career

If you're interested in becoming a nurse, then there's no other option: you've got to go to a nursing school. Of course, there are multiple kinds of nursing school, each of which offers different programs and opportunities, and any of which might meet your needs or desires. That's a good thing and a bad thing. The good part is that you've got plenty of options open to you, for your path to nurse-hood. The bad part is that you may not be sure of exactly what path is right for you.

That's okay, though! We're here to help.

Nursing schools: The path to becoming RNs

Nursing schools will generally assist you to become a registered nurse. The exact degree you might be pursuing at a nursing school may vary, and the school might give you differing opportunities, as a result. However, it's more likely than not that you'll be set up for a career as a registered nurse, with either an associate degree in nursing, called an ADN, or a bachelor's of science degree in nursing, called a BSN.

Nursing schools for LPNs or LVNs

There are other courses that you might choose to pursue, though. Instead of the path to becoming a registered nurse, perhaps you'll follow the path to becoming a licensed practical or licensed vocational nurse. The process to arrive at this position is a bit different from the process for an RN, and the career prospects are similarly different, but you may find that this path suits you much more. For more information, visit our page on nursing colleges for LPNs or LVNs.

Important info about nursing schools

If you're really interested in pursuing nursing as a career, you'll have to take certain measures. For example, you'll have to prepare for the nursing school entrance exams while you're applying to nursing schools. When you graduate, you'll have to study as best you can for the National Council Licensure Examination, which you'll have to pass to earn your nursing license. It's important to keep in mind these hurdles and milestones, so that you do adequately prepare yourself for them.

It's also very important as you plan to go to a nursing school that you have some idea of where you hope to take your career. This is because it'll be difficult to pick between the vast array of nursing schools out there today when you don't know exactly what it is that you want or should be looking for in order to meet your own goals.

Attending nursing school now is a good idea due to the predicted chance of expansion in the field over the coming years. Job prospects and salary numbers are looking good for the future, so now's the time to get in on the ground floor of the nursing profession.

If you're interested in attending a nursing school, then it's important that you sit down and really think about whether or not nursing is right for you. The desire to be a nurse can be great, but you should make certain that you want to be a nurse, as the profession involves hard work and some long hours.

In order to get a better understanding of what you'll need to know in order to determine your hopeful career path, follow the link. For more about nursing careers, visit our graduate section and its page on nursing careers.

The bottom line for nursing schools

Overall, if you're interested in the nursing profession and going to a nursing school, then that path can only do good things for you. Whether you're looking at nursing schools on the west coast or the east, in the north or the south, for a bachelor's degree or for an associate's degree, the fact remains that it will help you on your way to success, financially and personally, assuming you've got the interest and the right character.

Peterson's has more than 40 years of experience in higher education, and the expert staff members here are all ready to leverage their considerable knowledge and experience to help you succeed on your educational journey. We have the information, the know-how, and the tools -- now all we need is you!

Once you have defined your career goals and the level of nursing education they will require, the next step is matching your needs with the offerings and characteristics of specific nursing schools and nursing programs.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 2 million jobs for nurses, and the profession is one of the top ten occupations expected to offer the largest amount of new jobs in the coming years.

A standard basic or generic baccalaureate nursing program is a four-year college or university education that incorporates a variety of liberal arts courses with professional education and training. It is designed for high school graduates with no previous nursing experience.

Nursing, unlike many other professions, has a variety of educational paths for those who return for advanced education. You should decide if baccalaureate- or graduate-level work is congruent with your career goals.